Back in Business Salvation Army Camp Resurrects Itself from Cedar Fire

By Jim Evans

It was a clear day, and the sound of laughter echoed through the woods at the Sierra del Mar Salvation Army Divisional Camp in Ramona. It was music to the ears of Resident Director Dave Patton.

“It’s good to hear people enjoying the camp again,” Patton said. “It means we’re back!”

Like so many areas in the community, the 585-acre Sierra del Mar campground — one of three Salvation Army camps in California — was ravaged by last year’s Cedar Fire.

Patton’s residence, in addition to several other buildings at the camp, was completely destroyed. The camp lost two cabins, the recreation building and swimming pool, the maintenance shop, and the Sequoia Lodge — a small meeting-house for informal gatherings. The caretaker’s residence adjacent to Patton’s also was destroyed.

Director’s house immediately after fire.

“We were hit pretty hard,” Patton said in front of his recently restored home, “but we have managed to rebuild everything except the shop so far, and it will be finished soon.”

Even the Salvation Army’s divine connections had no special influence on their insurance company. “We had to wade through the red tape and bureaucracy just like everyone else,” Patton said.

Resident director Dave Patton in front of Director’s House now.

The camp successfully fulfilled its 10-week summer camp commitment to more than 750 youngsters this past summer, and “we are open all year-round to retreats and other private gatherings,” Patton said. “We haven’t fully recovered — there is still evidence of where the fire burned last year — but people are beginning to realize that things are back to normal, and we are ready, willing and able to accommodate those groups that might be looking for a truly relaxing getaway in a natural setting for their next retreat.”

Cabin immediately after fire.

Patton has a long history with the campground, starting as a young camper in the ’70s, then as a camp counselor and, for the past six years, as Resident Director.

“I guess I just got hooked on this place early on,” he said.

“It is truly God’s country out here,” he added, gazing at the cross atop Iron Mountain in the distance.

No argument there.

Cabin now.

For information about the camp schedule at Sierra del Mar, contact Dave Patton at (760) 788-3311. For information about retreats, call (619) 232-7322.

Photos by Jim Evans